'Birthplace of Christ' to be first Palestinian World Heritage site?

By Tim Hume, CNN

Updated 1146 GMT (1846 HKT) June 13, 2012

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity7 photos

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity – Orthodox monks tour the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, situated in the West Bank near Jerusalem. Palestinian authorities fear that visitor numbers will be lower than usual this Christmas, following a spate of cancellations due to violence in Gaza.

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Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity7 photos

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity – In June 2012, the Church of the Nativity became the first World Heritage site in the Palestinian territories. Christian pilgrims flock to the church, which features a grotto considered since at least the 2nd century to be the site of Christ's birth.

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Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity7 photos

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity – Orthodox priests take part in a procession in Bethlehem's Manger Square. Tourism officials in Bethlehem are hopeful that the upgrading of the Palestinian status at the U.N. could encourage more visitors to come.

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Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity7 photos

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity – A cross held aloft in Manger Square, next to a Palestinian flag. One of Christianity's holiest sites, the Church of the Nativity is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Palestinian territories, and drew about two million visitors last year.

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Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity7 photos

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity – In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine founded a church on the site, which was destroyed in the year 529. It was soon replaced by the structures that form the basis of the church today.

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Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity7 photos

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity – Orthodox clergy cleaning the Church of Nativity. Responsibilities for cleaning the church are split between the three denominations that administer the church, who have been known to erupt in scuffles.

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Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity7 photos

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity – Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal leading last year's Christmas midnight Mass at the church.

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Story highlights

Seen as the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity is one of Christianity's holiest sites

It has been nominated to be declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO

If approved, it will become the first Palestinian inclusion on the list

Palestinian membership to UNESCO was granted last October

Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, venerated by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus, could become the first World Heritage site in the Palestinian Territories, following a UNESCO meeting later this month.

The nomination, which includes the church and surrounding route taken by religious pilgrims, is the Palestinians' first bid for inclusion on the prestigious list of sites deemed as holding "outstanding universal value" as part of the world's shared heritage.

It comes after Palestinian membership to UNESCO, the United Nations' heritage body, was granted in October 2011, when UNESCO's general assembly voted by 107-14 to accept the Palestinians.

The vote proved controversial with the United States, which holds the view that a peace deal must be reached with Israel before the Palestinian Territories can be granted full membership of international organizations. The U.S. and Israel's subsequent funding cut to the body saw UNESCO lose more than a fifth of its revenues.

Bethlehem, situated in the West Bank, about eight kilometers south of Jerusalem, is considered the Palestinian Territories' top visitor destination partly due to the religious significance of the church. One of the oldest surviving Christian churches in the world, it drew 2 million visitors last year, according to Nada Atrash, an architect and head of the research and training unit at Bethlehem's Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation, which has been lobbying for the site's inscription as a World Heritage destination.

She said the center considered Bethlehem's inclusion on the list "as a Palestinian dream, and as a reward of 11 years of work in the field of preserving the cultural and natural heritage in Palestine."

Visitor numbers have hit record highs in recent years, but, according to a report into developing tourism in the town, Bethlehem has yet to properly capitalize on its potential. The majority of the visitors were day trippers on short visits, meaning the full economic benefits of tourism did not flow into the town.

Atrash said it was hoped that gaining World Heritage status would help efforts to boost Bethlehem's appeal as a destination and keep visitors in the town for longer than a visit to the church.

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"We are mainly seeking to extend the stay of the visitors, who usually drop (in) to Bethlehem for few hours to visit the church and leave without visiting the town," she said. "We hope that this inscription would contribute to both the promotion of the site and its protection."

The condition of the church, which has suffered extensive earthquake damage in its history, has been of concern. One of the issues is that responsibility for its administration is shared between three religious authorities -- the Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Roman Catholic churches. On occasion, tensions between the groups have spilled over into violence; in December, about 100 Greek Orthodox and Armenian clerics fought with brooms when a tussle broke out while cleaning the church.

One of Christianity's most holy places, the site's focal point is the Grotto of the Nativity, a rectangular cavern beneath the church that has been considered the site of Christ's birth since at least the 2nd century. A 14-pointed silver star set into the marble floor marks the precise spot where Jesus is said to have been born.

In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine founded a church on the site, which was destroyed in the year 529, only to be replaced by larger structures, which form the basis of the church today.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee will consider the Church of the Nativity among 36 sites nominated for inclusion on the list at its next meeting, to be held from June 24 to July 6, in St Petersburg, Russia.

UNESCO spokeswoman Susan Williams said it was not possible to predict the outcome of the meeting, where the committee would make its decisions "based on the information that is provided by the expert bodies, and the different presentations that are made."

"If the committee approves, it it's a done deal," she said.

For the first time in its 40-year history, members of the public and the media will be able to follow the debates of the Committee through live streaming on the internet.